LOCAL

Grand Ledge man befriended, threatened kids to get them to send him nude photos on Facebook

Kara Berg
Lansing State Journal
Kevin Scott Konen

GRAND RAPIDS — A Grand Ledge man used multiple fake Facebook profiles to coerce children to send him sexually explicit photos and videos, according to court records. 

In some instances, Kevin Konen, 52, would befriend the kids and trade sexually explicit images with them, according to court records. Other times, he would threaten to send nude photos to their family and friends if they didn't comply with him. 

Konen pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography. He faces 15 to 30 years in federal prison for the exploitation charge, and up to 10 years for the child pornography. 

Konen, who is in federal custody, also faces seven charges in Eaton County for similar acts. Those charges are still pending, according to online court records. 

Konen created three fake Facebook profiles under the names of "Jenny Mays," "Alyssa Pietrzak" and "Denny Ha." He used Facebook Messenger and other social media apps to chat with the children. 

He would direct the kids he was chatting with to Ha's profile, saying he could help them remove the explicit photos of themselves from the internet, according to court records. He directed them to give Ha their usernames and passwords for their accounts. 

Once he had access, he'd search the accounts for more compromising photos, according to court records. 

Federal court records identify eight children who Konen admitted to extorting. Michigan State Police Sgt. Rene Gonzalez said in September that Konen solicited photos from more than 10 boys and girls. 

MSP began investigating Konen in 2016 after one victim came forward, Gonzalez said. All the victims were from the Lansing area, but Konen never met with any in person, he said. 

It was not clear if the victims in the federal case and Eaton County case were the same. 

Contact Kara Berg at 517-377-1113 or kberg@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @karaberg95.